Community Engagement

Responsibilities

Stafford County provides information to citizens in a number of ways. The Department of Community Engagement leads these communication efforts with staff serving as the main spokesperson for the Stafford County Government. In addition, staff members work with media representatives, maintain government cable channels, coordinate special events, and assist with the maintenance of Stafford's Web site.

Specifically, staff in this office:

• Write press releases, articles for other publications, letters to the editor, commentaries for newspapers, and speeches
• Write and produce internal communications for employees and the Board of Supervisors
• Coordinate special events
• Draft proclamations for adoption by the Board
• Assist the Board with special requests
• Write speeches as requested by the Board and staff
• Write and submit award applications for County programs
• Administer and maintain Stafford's website 
• Design and publish county newsletters
• Administer and maintain the County's social media sites
• Provide media and communications support to the Emergency Operations Center, activated by the County during local emergencies

In addition, staff supports the Telecommunications Commission and acts as a liaison with the local cable television service providers to ensure compliance with the County's cable television franchise agreements.

The Community Engagement Office has taken on an increasingly involved role in internal communications by working with various committees to publicize County programs, events, policy changes, and new initiatives in order to keep employees better informed and thus better equipped to provide high-quality customer service, which will assist the Community Engagement Office in getting accurate information to the public.

The Community Engagement Office includes the Citizens Assistance Office, which provides more than 100 volunteers to assist with various tasks throughout the Stafford Government Center, in the courts, and in the Sheriff's Office. For more information about volunteering, please contact the Citizens Assistance Office at (540) 658-4516.

Community Engagement Resources

You can find out more about the Stafford County Government through these resources:

Government Cable Channels

Stafford County Government information is broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on Comcast Channel 23, Cox Channel 90 and Verizon Channel 39. Each Board of Supervisors meeting is broadcast live beginning at 3 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The meeting is rebroadcast at 1 p.m. on Thursday of the same week in which the Board meets. The Planning Commission meetings are also broadcast live the first and third Wednesdays of each month beginning at 5 p.m. The meetings are rebroadcast on the Friday of that same week, beginning at 5 p.m.

Press Releases

All press releases written by the Community Engagement Office are posted on the official Stafford County Government Web site.

Citizens Academy

The Citizens Assistance Office conducts a Citizens Academy for individuals interested in learning more about how the Stafford Government operates. The Academy is a series of classes that focus on different issues such as the county's budget, tourism and public safety.

There is no cost to attend, but classes are limited to 25 students. For more information, or to sign up for a class, please contact the Citizens Assistance Office at (540) 658-4518.

YES PROGRAM
The Stafford County and Stafford County Public Schools are pleased to offer a program that seeks to engage our youth in local government. The Youth Engaged in Stafford (YES) Program provides 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students an opportunity to learn about county government while also giving youth a hands-on experience in the daily processes and decisions that make Stafford County a great community to live, work, and raise a family. As community members, your voice is an integral part of this process and Stafford County wants to hear from you! To learn more about the program, visit our YES Program page.